Lady in White Dress
c. 1740
18th Century
29 3/8 x 24 3/8 in. (74.6 x 61.9 cm)
Attributed to
Francis Hayman,
English,
(1708–1776)
Object Type:
PAINTINGS
Creation Place:
Europe
Medium and Support:
Oil on canvas
Accession Number:
81-P-266
The figure sits against the dark background, drawing the eye to the lady’s fashionable white dress. She appears to be wearing the popular robe a l’Anglaise (English style gown), which had a close fit at the front and back of the dress. This contrasted with the robe a l’Francaise (French style gown), which had a fitted front style but fullness in the back. Open necklines also came into fashion by providing an additional way to flaunt wealth with accessories like the sitter’s fichu and the ruffled neck scarf. While the gown’s pale fabric and lace would have been impractical for reading in nature, country life was romanticized and aristocrats would commission portraits of themselves in these environments.
Liana Salazar
Class of 2022
Curatorial Intern
Current Location:
Art Museum : 18 C Gallery
by Artist
by Artist
